a gluten-free book tour

A week from tonight, the Chef and I will be on a plane to New York (gluten-free food in hand, thank you!).

Let the book tour begin.

We are so excited to come out of the kitchen, and behind the computer, to meet as many of you as we can.

This fall, we learned, the hard way, that publishers really don’t pay for book tours anymore. The old days of ten-city tours, and hotel room meals, are merely a dream for those of us who don’t have shows on the Food Network. I love my publishers, and especially my editor and the woman in charge of marketing (hi you two!). They have produced a beautiful book. It’s not their fault. This is simply the way of publishing these days. Money is tight, expectations are low, and in the days of the internet, it simply doesn’t make sense for a publisher to pay for an airline flight to Cleveland to read to a room of 50 people. (Thanks for that line, David.) And so, no book tour for this gluten-free girl.

Think again.

The Chef and I talked about this for days. Should we listen to common sense, save our money, and let the book sell through this website and word of mouth? Should we listen to this no?

Did you just meet me? (The Chef loves to say this to me when I suggest something ludicrous.)

We believe in this book. We want to let people know, in as many ways as we can, that living gluten-free can be joyful and alive.

In each city we visit, we’ll be doing cooking demonstrations, book signings, restaurant launch parties, visits to gluten-free bakeries, and as many fascinating events that we can plan and attend. Not only because we cannot wait to meet people, but also because we want the mainstream media and middle America both to know this: living gluten-free is not deprivation.

Do you notice that I am saying we? That is intentional. In nearly every place we visit, the Chef will be coming with me. I need him there, not only to keep me grounded in this surreal, lovely experience, but also because I want to share this with him. This is bound to be one of the most singular experiences of our lives.

We cannot wait.

As much as we would love to sell lots of books, both of us feel this clearly: we are doing this for more than ourselves.

We want people to know this….

Throughout my life, my health never matched my spirit.

Inside, I felt a natural exuberance. But I fell frequently ill, plagued with hormonal problems, so low in energy that I often wouldn’t move off the couch all afternoon. Depression settled into every crevice of my mind. I thought that this is what it meant to be alive.

When I was diagnosed with celiac disease at 38 years old, I said yes.

I said yes to my health. I listened to my body and avoided the gluten. I grew better. I said yes to the foods I had never eaten before, as long as they were gluten-free. I discovered sorghum from Africa, tamari from Asia, amaranth from Central America. I let the world into my kitchen.

I have never been so alive as I have been these past two years.

I’m not alone in this. 1 in 133 Americans has celiac disease. (Some studies suggest the number may be 1 in 100.) Only 3% of us are diagnosed. It is my mission in life to help every one of those people  most of them women who are languishing in pain and depression  to be diagnosed. With my book, I want to teach people how to say yes to their lives.

If being diagnosed with celiac changed my life this much, how much joy will be released when 3 million Americans find their health?

So, money be damned, we are going on the road. We’ll be staying on friends’ couches, and cobbling together frequent flyer miles, and pinching the pennies when we are home. But don’t feel sorry for us. What a blast this is going to be!

And I have been thinking, over and over, about one of my favorite sayings: Leap and the net will appear.

We’re leaping together.

Here are the first plans. There will be many more details revealed, as we go along. I’ll be keeping you updated as new events arise. But for now, here we go.

New York City  October 12th to 16th

The book will be officially for sale (ask for it at a bookstore near you!) on the 12th, and we’re going to New York to celebrate. Have I ever told you that the Chef and I lived in New York at the same time one year, twelve blocks from each other, and never met? This will be the first time we can walk the streets together, holding hands.

We are leaving some time open for media (perhaps yet to be announced). Much will happen spontaneously. But we would love to see you at the following events.

Saturday, October 13th at 11:30 am

The Chef and I will be standing at Strawberry Fields, in Central Park (just off 72nd Street), near the Imagine sign, at 11:30 am. That is the time of day we first met. And of course, we have this John and Yoko thing. We have never been to Strawberry Fields together.

Someone recently said to us, “You know, most people when they fall in love fall into each other and shut out the world. But you two, you just seem to go outward.” That’s true. We both love humanity. And we would like to share this moment with you.

We want to make this a real celebration. A good number of you wanted to attend our wedding (we’re still blown away by this!) in July. That was, of course, a private event. But, as dear Kelly suggested to me the other day, this event could be like the east-coast extension of our wedding. Let’s have a fabulous party!

If you would like, join us at the Imagine sign in Strawberry Fields, at 11:30 in the morning. I will be there to sign books (bring yours with you!), and we will both say hello.

We would also love it if  just like at our wedding  everyone joined us in singing “Imagine.” Sure, some of you might think this is hokey, but honestly? I’m growing a little teary just writing this.

This would mean the world to us.

Sunday, October 14th  morning

On Sunday morning, we will be up in Rye, New York, gleefully taking part in the Colin Leslie walk for Celiac. This beautiful event is being arranged by a 15-year-old young man named Colin Leslie, who was diagnosed with celiac two years ago and wanted to do something to raise awareness. Last year, 700 people attended the walk! I cannot wait to meet him.

The Chef and I will be there, selling books and hoping to meet every one of the people who participates in such a heartfelt event.

In this two-and-a-half-hour class, we will show you how to make penne pasta with smoked salmon, dill, horseradish, and white wine; chicken thighs braised in pomegranate molasses; and fig cookies. There will be plenty of other gluten-free nibbles as well.

The class limit is 20 people, so this will fill up fast. Call 212.420.1320 to make your reservation today!

(And if you cannot get into the class, we will be signing books at 9:30, after it is done.)
Seattle in October

After we come home, there will be an exhilarating whirlwind of events, and we hope you can help us celebrate!
October 20th – at the farmers’ market

The Chef and I will be at the University District Farmers’ market from 10 am to 12, at the master chef booth at the market. Have questions about parsnips? Want a recipe for butternut squash soup? We’ll be there to answer your questions!

4:30 pm – I will be on the Tom Douglas show, talking with Tom and Thierry on the radio! Please tune in and listen to me giggle and answer questions about gluten.
October 22nd – book launch party at Osteria la Spiga

Do you think you can’t be gluten-free and eat great Italian food? Come to Osteria la Spiga and find out the truth!

The Chef and I will be there, grinning like mad. This gorgeous, soaring space of a restaurant will become a kick-ass party, with gluten-free food, wine, and wonderful people. Entrance buys you all this, plus a book. This is definitely going to be a fabulous party.

(And here a note. In almost every city, we are deliberately holding restaurant launch parties in Italian restaurants. We love every cuisine in the world. Truly. But we want to send the message – by celebrating and eating well – that people’s dire fears of living gluten-free are unfounded. You can eat great Italian food and not grow sick. Living gluten-free means living well.)

There is limited space for this event, so please call 206.323.8881 to make reservations now.

October 26th – Chef Shop party

We love the folks at ChefShop.com. Not only do they stock some of the best vinegars and honeys we can find, but they are huge supporters of gluten-free people. Over a year ago, they contacted me  noticing that I have a link to them on my site  to ask if I could come in to consult for them. They had become aware of how many of us are living gluten-free, and they wanted to know everything they could about gluten-free flours, the dangers of cross-contamination, and how to obtain great food for all of us. I was impressed and honored, and we have been working together ever since.

You can also follow this link to make a reservation for the incredible party they are throwing in our honor on Friday, October 26th. They are decorating their warehouse like a giant swanky lounge. The theme is the honeymoon in Italy the Chef and I just experienced, and how easy it was to eat gluten-free there. I’ll be giving a slide show and a speech. There will be wonderful wine and appetizers galore. You can buy a book from Queen Anne books, who will be selling them at the party. And part of the proceeds will be donated to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness.

Most humbling for us, the chef who will be working for ChefShop will be making over a dozen appetizers for everyone, all based on recipes from the book. Shaved fennel salad; tomato and corona bean salad; tiny pizzas; macaroni and cheese with Manchego cheese; lemon olive oil cookies….the list goes on and on. I have to admit, I never dreamed that people who live in good food like this would be making my recipes for a party, held in my honor.

And we will be visiting five other cities as well, in a thrilling three months.

Portland  October 28th through 30th

Chicago  November 2nd through 5th

San Francisco and the Bay Area  November 8th through 12th

Los Angeles  December 1st through 4th

Denver and Boulder  just after the new year

Plans for each of these cities are still in formation, so stay tuned for more details. (And if you have any suggestions or offers, let us know!)

Believe me, we wish we could visit every city in this country. Perhaps later we can. But for now, this is an incredible start. And we are speechless, and honored.

None of this would have happened without the indefatigable efforts and intelligent enthusiasms of the dynamic women at Suzuki + Chou Communimedia. When we were flummoxed and feeling adrift in this, we found this team. Working with them has been one of the best decisions of our lives. Women, we adore you.

We want to change the lives of everyone who has to eat gluten-free, as well as the people who don’t know they need to yet. We have been blessed. We would like to share those blessings.

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86 comments on “a gluten-free book tour”

What a shame you’re not coming to the UK on your book tour. I would have been there! In any case I will be buying the book, and I wish you the best of luck on your book tour.

I’d also like to thank you for all the help and support you’ve given me since I was diagnosed with celiac two years ago, even though you didn’t realise it. Through reading your blog I’ve become excited about food again, and I will always be grateful to you for that.

I hate that the only city you’ve seen so little of the south–there’s so much to see down here. Of course there’s Atlanta, Dallas and Charleston, all beautiful cities, but the Triangle (Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill) has a lot of food obsessed people and some nationally known restaurants and Southern Season, one of the largest cooking stores in the country. I’ve travelled all over the world and was practically speechless the first time I went there. There are also numerous healthfood stores (including three large Whole Foods) and an independent bookstore (Quail Ridge Books) that has consistently been named one of the best independent bookstores in the country.

Shauna, any chance of a side trip to Madison, Wisconsin while you’re in Chicago? I love your blog and your passion for everything, and intend to buy your book. I know you could get more than “50 people in a room” here! If you can’t make it here, maybe I’ll see you in the Bay area in November while visiting my celiac daughter with my celiac husband! Have a wonderful time on the tour!

Dallas, please come to Dallas. I have been reading your blog for over a year, have commented every now and then, and I cannot wait to get your book. Because of you (and the chef) I have learned to enjoy food, again. And to enjoy the art of cooking it.

Oh, I wish you were stopping in Boston/New England, but I’m very excited for your book tour! I’m dying to hear more tales from Italy. It’s reminded me a bit of eating in Ireland as a Celiac (although the cuisine cannot compare, I’m sure). I’m also anxiously awaiting my copy of your book to arrive in the mail!!!

hi, i’ve been reading your blog for years and just want to say congratulations on the book, fiding your mr. right and everything else. I would be delighted to meet you, except we already have plans for that night, but Sambucca is a great deal of fun – and yay for gluten free menu!! Have a fantastic book tour – what a wonderful event to happen for you! Many good wishes!

I was so excited when I woke up to find that Amazon has shipped my copy of your book. Best of luck to you on your book tour. It’s so exciting. Thanks for all you’ve done so far and all the good that’s going to come of the book. You’re an inspiration. I hope to meet you as you swing through the Portland area.

I’ve been reading for years, and I am so excited to finally meet you (at the Whole Foods class in NYC. I don’t know if you’ve seen the culinary center there for yourself, but it’s nice). I always knew we would meet — have a knack for meeting people who have influenced my life with their writing.

I pre-ordered the book, and I’m just hoping it arrives before your visit. If not, I’ll just have to make that one a gift, because I’ll need to get another one for you to sign.

wow!!! you certainly do deserve to smile – you’ve accomplished so much, and this book tour is the perfect opportunity for you to showcase your book. I do wish I could come to ANY of these events; but alas, you won’t be in a city near me – I’ll just have to buy a copy of the book and WISH that I could have attended one of these book-tour events. have a LOVELY time touring!!! :0)

You’re talking to Tom Douglas – do convince him to get gf recipes in his restaurants. I so want to eat there, but am really hesitant. I’m thrilled about your book tour – so many people have been touched by your writing, and I know I’m not the only one who can’t wait to tell you in person. And you know, if you do decide to go up to Madison, just a few short hours from Chicago, I have friends there that could put you up. Same with Minneapolis. I’ll definitely come down for a Seattle event.

Very excited you’re coming to Chicago! There are some great celiac friendly restaurants (my fave Vinci on Halsted in Lincoln Park) and can’t wait to read your book and hope to see you in the windy city!

Congratulations – I ordered the book months ago and can’t wait for it to arrive next week. It sounds like you are starting on a pilgrimage. As the message gets out I am positive that momentum will build and 5 cities will become 10 and then 15 and then??? Your message is so full of love and positive energy how can people not embrace it and you. If you get a chance remember us here in Toronto and across Canada!

I’m so excited for your tour!!! This must be such an exciting time for you.I’ve been so inspired by your blog, and would love to come to one of your tour dates.Due to my religious beliefs, I don’t eat animal products or drink alcohol. Being in the same room with meat products makes me ill, you see, which would make it hard to focus on your book and discussion.Will the menu feature vegan and alcohol-free items? Or should I save the trip and just buy the book on Amazon?I was so hoping to get an autographed copy.

I’ve been following your blog ever since I found it earlier this year. I can’t wait to get your book, I’ll be ordering it through our local bookstore soon!

My partner and I own a completely GF bakery in Corvallis, Oregon (a little ways south of Portland). We would love to have you to our shop when you are in Oregon. If you would be at all interested in letting us host some kind of event for you, a reading or party or anything at all, please let us know.

What you’ve done, both with your blog and your book, is so important for the GF community. Thank you so much.

Shauna, you are so blessed! You see, I’m a writer and my husband’s a chef (just like you!), and I don’t know how we’d manage to go to Italy and then on a big book tour, especially if my husband were taking all that time off! How do you do it?? I’m in awe of your charmed life!

Shauna and Chef, thank you for what you are doing! When you go to Portland be sure to contact the good folks at locally owned New Seasons Markets. They are the kind of people who bend over backwards to provide for their customers. I’m sure they would love to have you do something at their stores and would probably carry your book!Leslie Z – former pastry chef, gluten-free for 8 years

If you haven’t already, contact Book Passage, http://www.bookpassage.com, in the SF Bay area. They’re really good with author events. One of there two locations (Corte Madera), would bring you up into Marin County.

Good luck on the book tour! I’ll be looking forward to your Bay area visit.

HOORAY, HOORAY!I am thrilled that you are coming to San Francisco!Do you have a place to stay?While my one-room condo isn’t condusive for a nice stay for guests, it would be my honor to otherwise assist with your lodging for a couple of the days you are here in town. If this isn’t too presumptuous — let me know and drop me a line at sollje2002@yahoo.com

Plenty of Whole Foods or even a Colorado favorite, Wild Oats in the Denver area that would love to have you and the chef. There is one specialty cafe I know of called Deby’s Gluten Free Cafe. It can be found on the internet and would be worth checking into. We can’t wait for your stop in Denver:)

I will definitely keep checking in to see where you will be when you’re in Chicago. We began our gluten-free journey with my youngest son almost a year ago and I found your blog last March. It has since become one of my favorite blogs both for the good writing and the non-crazy vibes I get from you. (Some of the websites devoted to health conditions–from pregnancy to celiac–tend to turn a little nutty. I prefer practicality and legibility.)

I heartily second the call to come to the Boston area – I’m sure Porter Square Books in Cambridge would love to host a reading/signing, and I know a lot of people who’d love to attend. Boston needs a kick in the rear re: celiac awareness!

Congratulations on the book coming out and energy for the book tour(but sounds like you don’t need it.)

I wanted to thank you because it was due to reading your blog that I figured out that gluten might be a problem for me. I had a lot of health problems that have improved a great deal since I gave up wheat but the most dramatic is that my hands have completely healed after about 50 years of unexplained chronic eczema. They were so bad that I often couldn’t use them for anything, and the intense itching and cracking made pain a daily reality. Washing dishes was really painful and I couldn’t think of doing it without gloves. My hands looked and felt terrible and that wasn’t very good, because as a teacher I had to be in front of classes every day.

When I gave up wheat my hands gradually healed, until today, they are completely clear and I can even do dishes without gloves. That in itself is almost a miracle to me.

And I wanted to let your readers know that this kind of reaction to wheat is possible, in case there are any people out there with similar symptoms.

You have also inspired me get writing again and say “yes” to the creative side of my life.

Thank you so much for your energy in promoting gluten-free living and for what it has meant to me personally.

Inside, I felt a natural exuberance. But I fell frequently ill, plagued with hormonal problems, so low in energy that I often wouldn’t move off the couch all afternoon. Depression settled into every crevice of my mind. I thought that this is what it meant to be alive.

i am pretty new to your amazing blog Shauna, but just wondering about the link with depression – you suffered quite a lot ?? I am going in search of this on yr blog now! XX thank you for a stunning blog, story, inspiration and thoughts.. x

You are certainly welcome to stay here when you come to Denver and Boulder. (I met you in Richmond, remember? The granola?) I live right between Denver/Boulder and have some wonderful connections to the GF world. No need to sleep on the couch either. You can have your own space with your own bathroom. I’ll give you a key and you can come and go as you please.

I’m on the same mission. I have celiac, my daughter has celiac, and I believe undiagnosed celiac contributed to my dad’s death (long, sad story). So, I’m determined to reach as many people as possible as well. I specialize in celiac and gluten intolerance (my Nutrition Therapy/Exercise Science practice) and want to spread the word that this is about abundance, not deprivation. It’s about living a full life and being healthy while doing it.

Contact me if you want a place to stay (seriously, I have plenty of room and am in an ideal location), need some connections for promoting your book, want local GF restaurant information, GF chef contacts, etc. PLUS, I cook and bake gluten-free, so you don’t have to worry about getting zapped here. And I always have lots of healthy GF snacks on hand. Oh, and my son is a chef and is on the GF bandwagon as well. Lots of good connections! 🙂 Please don’t hesitate to contact me. We’re on the same journey!

P.S. My box of pre-ordered books came from Amazon yesterday. The book is lovely!

If you ever have some extra time and money, come to Winnipeg, Canada. There is a gluten free bakery here where a nice old german man named lorenzo makes the best gluten free bread in the world. Honestly. It’s incredible. And we’d LOVE to see you!!!

Shauna, fantastic! This is so wonderful! I am in Pittsburgh, PA so if you are going to come here let me know. Until then I will keep spreading the word. I am so proud of you guys and thankful! YYYYYAAAAAAHHHHOOOOOOOOOOO!

I am so excited you are coming to San Francisco! I have not pre-ordered your book on-line yet, but only because I want to buy it in person at my local bookstore here in Berkeley. I can’t wait to read and own it…

I agree with the other poster that you should set up a way to donate to the book tour fund. I would do it in an instant. You have given ( and continue to give) us out here in the blog-reader world a gift, and I would like to do the good karmic thing and repay that gift.

If you and the chef can get to Tampa, Florida the last weekend in March of next year, I can help you set up an amazing tour there. Connections with the Tampa Trib. Connections with the Ybor City Market. Connections with the local TV and Radio. Wild Oats Market there. etc.

And we have two comfy guest rooms to choose fbetween, AND a grapefruit, orange, and lemon tree 😉 AND a hot tub.

Just wanted to say…. Your book arrived last night. I forgot why I ordered it (from Amazon) and thought, not another GF book! Anyways, I’m into chapter 2 and I can so identify with you. I was one of the celiac babies, and my mom was told I grew out of it. Meanwhile, during my childhood, I suffered from hypoglycemia, borderline diabetes, and other ailments that I now realize are due to the fact that–you guessed it!–I STILL have celiac disease (I was re-diagnosed about 3 years ago–and I’m in my early 40s). I mean, here I thought it was just IBS and I was always going to feel lousy.

When I was re-diagnosed, I lost all urge to cook for myself, and I come from a very talented cooking family. I especially adored baking and made lots of cookies at Xmas time (still the hardest time of the year for me). I’m hoping your book will re-inspire me.

Also, I really identify with your experience in another way. Just a couple of weeks ago I was taking an iron pill for less than one week. I was feeling drained, sleeping for at least 12 hours. I swore I was coming down with the flu. Yet, after a day where I came home early to sleep, I decided to look at the ingredients of the iron supplement for some odd reason. You see, my mom had give it to me, and since she was such an expert on CD–since she had dealt with it when I was a baby–I never thought to check. Well, one ingredient was barley grass juice. I can’t imagine the miniscule amount that was in this pill, but I still can’t believe how much that amount affected me.

YEAH! I’m so glad you’re coming to L.A. I was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago with celiac, and I’ve been GF for 3 weeks. I feel like a new person! Your blog is a godsend, and has offered me far more information than any of my doctors have been able to give. Thank you for your knowledge of this disease, but also for your positive outlook that would keep me coming back to read this even if I weren’t celiac.

I pre-ordered your book and am anxiously awaiting its arrival. I will definitely be at the L.A. stop of your tour!

OH, and try Da Luciano while in Chicago, if you can- the restaurant is not 100% gluten-free, but they have a fabulous gluten-free menu and are very dedicated to promoting celiac-friendly dining. (www.dalucianos.com)

your post inspired me just with your words.if i was even in the same continent as your tour, i would’ve come. and brought you some art and tea and hugs for all this joy and health you’re spreading.good luck.

I’m with gina perry and katygirl – come to Boston! I’ve got a great futon and a gluten-free home…

Even though we’re gf because of allergy and not celiac, I send folks to your blog often. Because you tell a wonderful story, and it’s more about your delight with food than your frustration with being denied food. It is precisely the message we give our two boys, and precisely the attitude we hope our families and friends will see in us.

And it’s true. Porter Sq books in Cambridge does do a good author reading….

I vote for Boston, too!Ironically, I’ll be in NY next week when you are there, but I’ll be tied up workingdoing a craft show so won’t be able to make it to your events! I’m sad about it!Have a wonderful trip! And I can’t wait to get the book! I’m planning on giving it out as a holiday present this year!

Shauna and The Chef,Our support group, Gluten-Free Wikaduke that meets outside of Chicago in Plainfield would love to have you at our meeting on the morning of November 3rd. Your appearance would make our 1st anniversary meeting a very special occasion!

We of course would be willing to provide lodging for you on the 2nd or the 3rd.

Hi, thanks for your blog, it’s a great encouragement. After being diagnosed with depression, chronic fatigue ‘failure to recover from malaria’ etc etc, it’s a great relief to know that I can with just a little effort, be well. I seriously felt I was getting dumber by the day -the fog in my head was so great, as a nurse in Emergency, that was becoming a problem. I love feeling energetic again and confident in what I know and am able to acheive, and I’m only 3 weeks into a GF lifestyle!My husband is so impressed with the change in me, he’s considering going gluten free too 🙂

Aside from all the great stuff thou, I have a serious question I’m hoping you or your readers can help me with. I’ll be travelling in South East Asia (Perth, Australia is home base) in november and as a new GFer, the prospect of finding safe food where my language abilities will be seriously limited is rather daunting. Does anyone have any recommended staples in these areas, namely Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia Thailand and Korea? Any books written by GF travellers?I really would be so grateful for any help or tips you can offer. Thanks again, you’re doing an awesome job, Karyn 🙂PS Can’t wait to check out your book

Shauna, Good luck to you on your tour! If you were coming to the Hampton Roads, VA area, I’d be sure to see you. I have been an avid reader of your blog ever since my herbalist suggested I might have celiac last summer. Blood tests came back negative, but I still read your blog, nonetheless, because your writing inspires me!

Hi Shauna! Oh, I love this post a lot! I don’t have celiac but am so moved by your energy and honesty and generosity of spirit — and of course your story-telling soul. Sometime I think I could be happy forever just to sit and listen to people’s stories…

Anyhow … my sweet fella and I also lived in New York at the same time without ever meeting! But I think it was good it took longer for us to find one another … we’re farming folk now and who knows what kinds of plans and dreams we would’ve had if we’d met in that very different context?

Congratulations on the tour (crossing my fingers that my copy will be in today’s mail!) and I wish you the most delicious and enriching time! My fella and I are just beginning an adventure of our own — we lease land now but will soon buy our own farm — and as I read the comments to this post, I can’t help but see an old-fashioned barn raising going on! Do you know about these?

And finally, a resource to consider as you plan out your time in the stops along your tour: the organizing bodies of farmers’ markets. I’ve sold veggies, meats and pastas at DC-area markets over the last two years, and have met so many people seeking gluten-free foods. And of course most farmers’ market shoppers are very serious and joyful about their eating … and that’s your reading public!

Shauna — Congrats on your book tour…I can’t wait to get my own copy. I’ve been reading your blog for about a year now, and I always enjoy your posts. Thanks for being so open about Celiac and for letting us into your love story with the Chef.

If you have any interest or opportunity to come to Nashville, please contact my husband at jhesse(at)gaylordhotels.com. He’s a manager at the Italian retaurant in Opryland (Ristorante Volare), and I asked him if they would be able to arrange a party or book signing or cooking demonstration. He said he’d definitely be open to discussing it with you, so I wanted to throw it out there if you have any desire to visit Music City.

My goodness, this outpouring has done me no end of good in this strange time (waiting for your first book to come out, it turns out, is really hard!). We are so excited to be able to meet as many of you as possible.

For all of you who are writing to say, “Come to my city!” Oh, that we could! Perhaps in the new year, if there is enough interest in the book, we can add one or two more cities. We’ll keep you posted as we go.

All those of you who offered us your homes — my goodness, you are amazing. we do have places to stay in every city we are visiting (that’s part of the reason we chose those cities!), but your offer means the world to us.

Oh, and by the way, I would love to go to Cleveland! That line was just the kind of disparaging remark that publishers only thinking of the dollar would say. If I could, Cleveland here I come!

For the anonymous writer with a chef husband who worried about our finances? Believe me, I hear you. We don’t have a lot of money. We could only afford our Italian honeymoon because our friends and family were kind enough to make that their present to us for the wedding. And the book tour? Well, to be honest, we’re going into debt for this. It’s a huge risk. It could all fall down around us. But we just had to say yes. We’re going on long weekends, over three months, so that the Chef doesn’t miss as much work. The owner of his restaurant loves him, and business is booming because of this. He recognizes that the time off is worth it. But really, we’re just going on hope here. Fingers crossed.

To everyone in every city, I hope you enjoy the book. If you do, spread the word. Put a review on Amazon. I feel like this is the little book that could. We’re going to have to chug up that hill. But I want this book to be in the hands of everyone who needs it. We’re all in this together!

There is a big population of celiacs here in DC. We have cakelove(gluten free), sticky fingers and a big dc celiac group. You can totally stay at my house if you needed a place to crash- and a big gluten free meal. Yay for this book!

I’m beyond thrilled that you are coming to Chicago. I’ve written to Oprah…I’m sure she’ll be calling me back any moment 🙂 Your site has been my personal attitude adjustment on especially hungry days so thank you. One question…does where we buy the book matter to you? In other words, do you get more profits from the books that are bought online versus stores?

Heard about your blog and your book from Lesa, who told me about the Seattle Party. I was excited and looking forward to attending when she told me it will be on the 26th. Darn it! I’ll be on a plane to Atlanta that day. I’d love to mention your book/blog in my blog, however. 🙂

YAY, you are coming to Chicago. We have a Chicago Celiac group and Supper Club called the MetroCeliacs. Cannot wait to hear more details about your Chicago visit. Check out a tiny portion of our events at MetroCeliacs.blogspot.com (we are nowhere near your level of expertise and beautiful prose) and MetroCeliacs@yahoo.com in case you read this and would like restaurant suggestions for your stay! Thanks for coming!

Check out couchsurfing.com if you want to stay for free anywhere in the world. Very cool site. Also, I’ll offer my guestroom and well-equipped gf kitchen if you do decide to come to St. Louis. Good luck! kit in st louis